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A Body to Live In

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The queer art of Body modification took center stage in 1989 when Fakir Musafar's "Modern Primitives" movement hit alternative cultures around the globe via the punk subcultural magazine Re/Search. A photographer, performance artist, and ritualist, Musafar's work mobilized an entire generation of artists, thinkers, and seekers. A Body To Live In introduces this riveting "Gender Flex" icon to uncover the rich history of western body modification and its controversial intersections with sexuality and spiritual practices.
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Critics Reviews

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Avi Offer NYC Movie Guru 10h
Mildly engaging and stylishly edited albeit hagiographic, repetitive and dry. Go to Full Review Benjamin Franz Film Threat 10h
8/10
While a heady experience, this should only be viewed by those of an iron constitution and an insatiable curiosity of adult age. Go to Full Review Christopher Campbell Nonfics (Substack) 4d
While I don’t expect a lot of viewers to give it a look, I did find the film’s section on the AIDS crisis and the address of the modern primitivism movement’s cultural appropriation issue interesting beyond the stuff that I didn’t relate to or agree with. Go to Full Review Gregory Nussen Screen Rant 4d
8/10
Yet, despite the intense acts depicted on the screen, A Body to Live In is a surprisingly smooth watch thanks to its careful attention to the intentionality of a trailblazer. Go to Full Review Peter Keough Arts Fuse Nov 22
These interviews are intermixed in a nonchronological, collage-like structure, with images backed by disembodied voices and an incantatory soundtrack evocative of a Kenneth Anger film. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 4d Real footage in 1 hour and 37 minutes. See more Read all reviews
A Body to Live In

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Cast & Crew

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Angelo Madsen Minax

Director

Fakir Musafar

Self

Cléo Dubois

Self

Ron Athey

Self

Annie Sprinkle

Self

Jim Ward

Self
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A Body to Live In

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Movie Info

Synopsis The queer art of Body modification took center stage in 1989 when Fakir Musafar's "Modern Primitives" movement hit alternative cultures around the globe via the punk subcultural magazine Re/Search. A photographer, performance artist, and ritualist, Musafar's work mobilized an entire generation of artists, thinkers, and seekers. A Body To Live In introduces this riveting "Gender Flex" icon to uncover the rich history of western body modification and its controversial intersections with sexuality and spiritual practices.
Director
Angelo Madsen Minax
Producer
Angelo Madsen Minax, Lyle Ravi Kash, Luka Fisher
Screenwriter
Angelo Madsen Minax
Distributor
Altered Innocence
Production Co
Cinereach, Hard Flow
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 27, 2026, Limited
Runtime
1h 37m